Sinterklaas is definitely a thing of the past on Curaçao. There will be no Sinterklaas tour on the island this year. This had already been announced by the foundation that organizes the entry, but now the government has also stopped the subsidy for that foundation.
Curaçao stops the subsidy because the government does not want to contribute to events ‘that evoke feelings of oppression and racism’. According to a government press release, the Sinterklaas celebration, in its current form, is a celebration “with discriminatory aspects for people of color and people of African descent.”
Definitely off the job
A few years ago it was announced that the Curaçao government would stop the subsidy, but the party is only now definitely over.
No surprise
It is no surprise that there will be no Sinterklaas tour in Willemstad. The ‘Foundation for Children’, which traditionally organized the entry one week after the arrival of Sinterklaas in the Netherlands, previously announced that the party would not take place this year.
For years there has been fierce criticism of the Sinterklaas entry to the island. This regularly led to protests against Zwarte Piet. Last year, the demonstrations were fueled again by the Dutch action group Kick Out Zwarte Piet.
The death of George Floyd earlier this year gave the organization the ultimate decision: the party would no longer take place. The corona measures and a lack of sponsors also played a role in the decision.
New children’s party
The Curaçao government is now working on a new national children’s party. This should be organized around the International Day of the Child, on 20 November.
It is not yet clear what the party will look like exactly. But the government is very clear about one thing: all children should be able to participate in the new party, regardless of their race, religion or origin.
‘Piet bai flit’
Last year there was a demonstration at the entry of Sinterklaas in Willemstad. Dozens of protesters had gathered with banners and action boards. Their protest signs had texts like ‘Feest van Sint en Piet = Mental Slavery’, and their T-shirts said ‘Piet bai flit’ (Piet go away).
